PIA Press Release2006/10/30

Don't use road right-of-way, DPWH warns public

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (30 October) -- Officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has warned the public not to use any portion of the road right-of-way of the national highway to avoid government sanctions.

Engr. Perfecto Urban, DPWH south district chief of the maintenance section said the program, prohibiting the use of the road right-of-way of national highways is intended to recover the sufficient areas intended for the roads and prevent the utilization of these areas for the safety of the public.

Urban said DPWH's Department Order No. 52, series of 2003 has authorized the agency to remove obstructions and prohibit the use of the right-of-way of national roads.

"The government does not want to enforce a drastic force but first of all, it wants to have a voluntary action on the part of those affected individuals and organizations to comply and follow this order," Urban explained during a meeting of concerned agencies on the implementation of the billboards ban in the province (October 26).

Urban said they have already established marking posts, indicating the areas of road right-of-way in most areas in the province to serve as guides for those planning to erect establishments and warning to those who have already encroached it.

Section 23 of the Presidential Decree No. 17 or the Revised Philippine Highway Act states that "it shall be unlawful for any person to usurp any portion of right - of - way, to convert any part of any public highway, bridge, wharf or trail to his own private use or to obstruct the same in any manner." (PIA NVizcaya) [top]